Sapienza's governing bodies have approved the new Code of Conduct in the fight against sexual harassment, which sets out operational guidelines to support gender equality and provide assistance to people sexually harassed and includes the figure of a female Confidential Counsellor. This figure, provided for in the European Parliament's resolutions, will receive reports from students, academic and administrative staff as a whole, directing the necessary measures in each case. The reports will be processed in such a way as to ensure respect for the privacy of the persons involved, both of those directly concerned and of any witnesses useful to clarify the circumstances of the harassment. The Counsellor, who will remain in office for 2 years, will be proposed by the Guarantee Committee, appointed by the Rectress, and selected from among external professionals, with suitable and proven competence and experience, following the publication of an official call.

The Code, in addition to establishing those specific behaviours - including verbal ones - that fall within the scope of harassment, contains indications to prevent the occurrence of behaviours that can be defined as sexual harassment, through a specific training programme on the protection of personal freedom and dignity to promote and spread the culture of respect.

Also intending to give concrete form to the theme of rights, Sapienza has set up the Technical Scientific Committee on Diversity and Inclusion. Professors, technical-administrative staff and students will work in close contact with the University's Governance to implement strategic plans and projects aimed at promoting equalitỳ and integration and creating new networks in clearly defined areas of interest.

The Committee will address socio-economic issues also related to accessibility to new technologies; issues related to different physical abilities, psychological distress and Individual Educational Needs; critical issues related to gender inequalities; all forms of discrimination, direct or indirect, linked to ethnic origin, nationality, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, age, abilities, religious beliefs and practices, personal, social, economic and/or health conditions.

Specific actions and projects will also be devised in incoming orientation and in connection with secondary schools: the aim is to deconstruct gender stereotypes and horizontal gender segregation, which often lead female students to choose faculties and degree programmes considered more "appropriate" for women, rather than disciplinary fields traditionally considered purely male and largely included in the acronym STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). 

The Committee will also address the strengthening of the positive projects already undertaken at Sapienza in the field of gender identity, such as, for example, the activation of the "Alias career" for trans*, non-binary and gender non-conforming students in 2018, and the services and programmes of prevention and intervention against homobitransphobia and discrimination related to gender and sexual orientation.

"Inclusion processes are the fundamental prerequisite for reducing inequalities and represent one of the basic principles of the University's culture and the right to education. Today we are giving a strong signal of pragmatism because guaranteeing rights means equipping ourselves with effective tools - says Rectress Antonella Polimeni - I am delighted with what has been approved by the University because it proposes tools to combat all types of discrimination; my commitment as Rectress is for an inclusive and fair university, in which the ability to listen is accompanied by concrete and consequent actions. An approach that I consider rewarding and that will strengthen the Sapienza community".

The English version of the Code of Conduct in the fight against sexual harassment issued by RD 286/2021, register.no.7568 on 02.02.2021, is published in the documents and circulars directory. 
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